Hydraulic pressure-exchanging devices

ABSTRACT

Pressure-exchanging devices comprise a pair of chambers, and valves connecting to one chamber a first fluid inlet conduit and a second fluid outlet conduit whereby the inlet pressure of the first fluid is applied to the second fluid, the valves connecting to the second chamber the second fluid inlet conduit and the first fluid outlet conduit whereby the inlet pressure of the second fluid is applied to the first fluid in the second chamber. The valves reverse the foregoing connections during another time period to provide a double-action pressure-exchange. Further valves are provided in the form of floatable elements disposed in each chamber and effective by the change in level of the fluid in the respective chamber to open and close the chamber.

1 United States Patent ['72] inventor Asriel Osdor Tel-Aviv, Israel l] App1.No. 870,951

Patent No. 3,522,152

[45] Patented Aug. 31,1971 [73] Assignee Hydro Chemical & Mineral Corp.

New York, N.Y.

[54] HYDRAULIC PRESSURE-EXCHANGING DEVICES 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. 52 us. (:1 417/102, 417/122,417/132 [511 1nt.C1 F041 1/06 [50] Field ofSearch 417/102, 92,103,122,123,124,132,97,118,119,121, 130, 137

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 432,849 7/1890 Wright 417/132 6/1915 McGuire 417/122 1,173,563 2/1916 Dodd 60/221 2,075,678 3/1937 VonLangen. 417/122 X 2,704,034 3/1955 Jones 417/102 2,972,225 2/1961 Cumming et al 60/3948 Primary ExaminerCarlt0n R. Croyle Assislanl Examiner-R. E. Gluck 'Alwrney Benjamin J. Barish ABSTRACT: Pressure-exchanging devices comprise a pair of chambers. and valves connecting to one chamber a first fluid inlet conduit and a second fluid outlet conduit whereby the inlet pressure of the first fluid is applied to the second fluid, the valves connecting to the second chamber the second fluid inlet conduit and the first fluid outlet conduit whereby the inlet pressure of the second fluid is applied to the first fluid in the second chamber. The valves reverse the foregoing connections during another time period to provide a double-action pressure-exchange. Further valves are provided in the form of floatable elements disposed in each chamber and effective by the change in level of the fluid in the respective chamber to open and close the chamber.

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INVENTOR ASRIEL OSDOR '7 .5 7 .AT TORrlEY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE-EXCHANGING DEVICES" This is a division of application Ser. No. 360,813,,filed Apr. 20, 1964, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152, granted July, 28, 1970.

The present invention relates to hydraulic pressureexchanging devices which are particularly, but not exclusively, useful in the process and apparatus of my U.S. Pat. application 360,813, filed Apr. 20, 1964 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152.

An object of the invention is to provide novel hydraulic devices which translate or exchange the pressure of one fluid in a system such as that of my application Ser. No. 360,813 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152 to that of'another fluid (which may be the same fluid under different conditions) in the system.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a diagram of one form of hydraulic pressureexchanging device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another form of hydraulic pressure-exchanging device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a further form of hydraulic pressure-exchanging device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

THE HYDRAULIC DEVICES OF FIGS. 1-3

. heat is exchanged between two media.-

I. Hydraulic Device of FIG. I V

The device illustrated in FIG. 1 is probably the simplestto explain. This structure is found in the devices A5-B5, A6-B6 and A7-B7 in FIG. 3 of my application Ser. No. 360,813 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152.

As described in application Ser. No. 360,813, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152 hot paraffin at a pressure of about 245 kgJcm. 2 is introduced into pressure-exchanger A5-B5 through inlet line or conduit 576 and is removed therefrom at a pressure of about 226 l g./cm. through outlet line or conduit 578. In addi tion, coolerparaffin at a pressure ofabout 226 ltg./cm. isintroduced into the pressure-exchanger through line or conduit 560 and is removed therefrom at a pressure of about 2'45.5 kg./cm. through outlet line or conduit 574.

Inlet conduit 576 is connected to a valve V1 so that its input may be applied either to chamber B5 through conduit 576' or to chamber A5 through conduit 576", depending upon the position of valve V1. Similarly, input conduit 560 is connected to a similar valve V2 arranged so that its input may be applied to chamber A5 through conduit 560". or to chamber B5 through conduit 560, according to the position of valve V2. Output conduit 578 is also connected through valve V1 to either chamber A5 or chamber B5, depending upon the position of the valve. Lastly, outlet conduit 574 is connected to either chambers B5 or A5, depending upon the position of valve V2. Small compressors C4 and C5 are included in output line 578 and 574 to maintain the flow of the fluids through the device and into the heat-exchangers.

Valves V1 and V2 are cyclically operable. That is, they are each operated so that for a time they are in the positions shown, and for another time they are reversed. When reversed, inlet conduit 576 is connected to conduit 576", outlet conduit 578 is connected to conduit 576', inlet conduit 560 is connected to conduit 5 60, and outlet conduit 574 is con nected to conduit 560".

In use, both chambers A5 and B5 are filled with paraffin. The operation of pressure-exchanger AS-BS of Fig. 1 is as follows:

When the cyclically operated valves VI and V2 are in the position shown, inlet conduit 576 is connected to the top of chamber B5 and outlet conduit 578 is connected to the top of chamber A5. Similarly, inlet conduit 560 is connected to the bottom of chamber A5, and outlet conduit 574 is connected to the bottom of chamber B5. Accordingly, the 245 kg./cm.

pressure of the paraffin in inlet conduit 576 is applied to the paraffin at the bottom of chamber B5, this paraffin being the relatively cooler paraffin introduced previously through inlet conduit 560 at apressure of about 226 kg./cm. The paraffin at the bottom of chamber will therefore be driven out of the chamber through conduit 560' and valve V2 at a pressure of about 245.kg'./cm. in compressor C5, which is the pressure it leavesthrough conduit 574' for passing into heat-exchanger H3, asdescribed earlier.

At the same time'with the valve connections as shown, the relatively cooler paraffin passing through conduit 560 at a pressure of about 226' kgL/cm. is applied to the bottom of chamber A5. This drives out the paraffin at the top of chamber A5 through conduit 576" and valve V1 at the same pressure, ile. 226 kg./cm. The latter pressure is boosted slightly by compressor C4 to about 226.5 kg./cm. for introduction into a heat-exchanger as described in application Ser. No. 360,813, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152.

Now when valves V1 and V2 are shifted in position during another portion of the cycle, they reverse the connections to chambers A5 and B5 as described earlier. The higher pressure paraffin is now applied from conduit 576 to the top of chamber A5 and forces the paraffin from the bottom of that chamber to output conduit 574, and similarly the lower pressure paraffin applied through input conduit 560 is applied to the bottom of chamber B5 and forces the paraffin from the top of that chamber through outletconduit 578.

It is thus seen that a double-action pumping effect is produced as the valves V1 and V2 are cyclically shifted from one position to the other. In one portion of the cycle, the paraffin is forced out one end of each chamber and is introduced through the other end, and in the other portion of the cycle, the paraffin is forced out-through the other end of each chamber and is introduced into the first end.

The volume of each chamber A5, B5 is larger than the total volume of paraffin flowing out (or in) through both cycle portions, so that a portion of the paraffin always remains within the chambers and acts as a separating layer between the two different temperature portions. The flow rate may be controlled by thermostatically controlled circulating pumps (not shown) responsive to the temperature at e.g. the outlet conduits.

As an example, each of the chambers A5, B5 may be about 5 meters in length with an inner diameter of about 60 cm., and the timing for the cyclic valves V1 and V2 may be set for about 5 seconds in one position and about 5 seconds in the other position. For controlling valves V1 and V2, a crankshaft may be provided driven by any rotating motive means in the system, the crankshaft and its drive being schematically indicated by the reference numerals 618 and 619 in FIG. 1.

The foregoing description of the chamber dimensions, the timing for the cyclic valves, and the control thereof, could also apply to the corresponding elements in the hydraulic devices of FIGS. 2 and 3 described below.-

2. Hydraulic Device of FIG. 2

The pressure-exchange device illustrated in FIG. 2 is somewhat more complicated than that of FIG. 1. The FIG, 2

device is the structure of A3-B3 of FIG. 3 of application Ser. No. 360,813 now Pat. No. 3,522,152, in which the desalinated water is introduced through line or conduit 520 at a pressure of about 245 kgJcm. and is removed through line or conduit 522 at a pressure of about 255 kg./cm. Also, nitrogen at a pressure of about 255 l g./cm. is introduced through line 542 and is removed through line 544 at a pressure of about 245 kg./cm.

The hydraulic device of FIG. 2 includes two chambers A3 and B3, and a pair of cyclically operable valves V3 and V4, similar to valves V1 and V2 described in FIG. I. In the illustrated position of the vales, the nitrogen applied through inlet conduit 542 at a pressure of 255 kg./cm. and boosted to about 255.5 kg./cm. by compressor C6, is applied to the top of chamber A3, the outlet conduit 544 for the nitrogen being connected to the top of chamber B3. Also, the desalinated water applied through inlet conduit 520 at a pressure of about 245 kg./cm. is introduced into the bottom of chamber B3, the outlet conduit 522 for the desalinated water being connected to the bottom of chamber A3. Thus, in this position of the valves, desalinaded water will be driven out from the bottom of chamber A3 through outlet conduit 522 at a pressure of about 255.5 kg./cm.", and nitrogen will be driven out of the top of chamber B3 through outlet conduit 544 at a pressure of about 245 kg./crn. The fore going is apparent from the description of the earlier described embodiment in FIG. 1. Similarly, when valves V3 and V4 are operated in another portion of the cycle to change their connections, similar outputs are produced, but from the opposite chambers, In other words, this is the same type of double-action pumping effect described with respect to FIG. 1.

However, the device in FIG. 2 includes chamber valve means in both chambers A3 and B3 for closing these chambers to the two fluids at the appropriate times, to assure that one fluid (for example the nitrogen in line 542) will not flow through the outlet for the other fluid, and vice versa. These chamber valves are not necessary in the FIG. 1 embodiment since the two fluids are of the same material (paraffin), but at different temperatures, and therefore some mixing will not be detrimental.

The four chamber valves in the two chambers A3 and B3 are generally designated v1, v2, v3, v4. They are all float operated so that they close in response to a change in the level of a fluid, each valve being normally maintained in a open position by a spring.

Considering valve v1 for, example, it is seen that it includes a rece tacle 620 filled with one of the fluids in the chamber, which could be either the desalinated water or nitrogen, but preferably nitrogen. The receptacle is formed with an opening 622 at the top thereof so that its interior is subject to the same pressure as the interior of chamber A3. The valve is supported by a stem 624 passing through an opening in the top of chamber A3, the stem including a stop 626 resting on top of the chamber so as to limit the open position of the valve. The upper end of the stem 624 is threaded and includes a nut 628. A coil spring 630 is interposed between nut 628 and the upper end of the chamber, and is of sufficient force to support the weight of receptacle 620 when filled with its fluid (e.g. nitrogen) so that the receptacle will float on the pure water when the latter rises from the other end of the chamber A3. It will thus rise until it closes the opening in the upper part of chamber A3 to interrupt the further rising of the water and, thereby, to prevent the further out-flow of nitrogen and then the out-flow of the water. As soon as the water level drops in the next portion of the cycle, the receptacle 620 drops with it and the valve opens. Nut 628 adjusts the force of the spring 630.

In operation, assuming cyclic valves V3 and V4 are in the positions illustrated in FIG. 2, the nitrogen from line 542 will flow into the top of chamber A3 and will force out the water through the bottom opening in the chamber A3 and through outlet 522. When the water in chamber A3 drops to its low point, the receptacle (620) for valve v2 will begin to float in the falling-level water until it closes the bottom opening in chamber A3, terminating any further outflow of water. Similarly, the water flowing through inlet conduit 520 will be directed into the bottom of chamber B3 and will force out the nitrogen in the top of the chamber through outlet conduit 544, until the water level rises to the high point in chamber B3 where receptacle 620 for valve v3 floats on it and closes the top opening in that chamber.

It is thus seen that the inlet pressure of the nitrogen in conduit 542 is applied to drive the water through outlet conduit 522 at the same pressure, and the inlet pressure of the water in line 520 is applied to drive out the nitrogen through line 544.

In the next portion of the cycle, cyclic valves V3 and V4 reverse their connections, producing the same results but in the reversed chambers.

By including these float-operated valves in chambers A3 and B3, it is seen that the chambers are closed whenever the level of the fluid from the opposite side of the chamber rises or lowers to a level approaching the outlet end of that chamber, this closing of the valve assuring that that fluid will not flow into the wrong outlet conduit. I

3. Hydraulic Device of Fig. 3 i

The hydraulic pressure-exchanger illustrated in FIG. 3 represents the construction of both the A2'B2 and A4-B4 devices of FIG. 3 of application Ser. No. 360,813 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152. As described in application Ser. No. 360,813, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,152 the pressureexchanger. A4-B4 passes relatively hot nitrogen at a pressure of about 255 kg./cm. from input line or conduit 534 which is translated to an output pressure of 225.5 kg./cm. at output line or conduit 536; and passes relatively cold nitrogen at a pressure of 225 l g./cm. from input line or conduit 528 which is translated to an output pressure of 255.5 ltgJcm. at output line or conduit 530.

The pressure-exchanger of FIG. 3 includes two chambers each made up of two chamber sections. One chamber comprises chamber sections A4 and A'4 interconnected at the bottom by connection 650, and the other chamber is made up of chamber sections B4 and B4 interconnected by bottom connection 652. Paraffin is included in the bottoms of all the chamber sections, including interconnections 650 and 652, the remaining volumes of the chamber sections being adapted to contain the nitrogen applied from inlet conduits 534 and 528. Each of the chamber sections further includes, at the upper end, a floating valve member v5, v6, v7 and v8, each similar to floating valve v1 in FIG. 2. That is, with respect to valve v5, it includes a receptacle 654 normally filled with nitrogen and opened at the top at 656 so that it communicates with the chamber, a stem 658, a coil-spring 660, an adjustable nut 662, and a stop 664 limiting the open position of the valve member. The valve is normally supported in the open position by spring 660 such that it floats in the paraffin, when the paraffin rises, to close the top of the chamber section.

A small compressor C7 is included in inlet conduit 534 sufficient only to maintain the flow of the hot nitrogen through the device, and another small compressor C8 is included in outlet conduit 536, being sufficient to raise the pressure of the hot nitrogen flowing through its respective conduit about 0.5 kg.lcm. so that it is at a pressure of about 225.5 kg'./cm. at outlet conduit 536.

Further the device in FIG. 3 includes a cyclically operable valve V5, similar to the corresponding valves V1, V2, V3 and V4in FIGS. 1 and 2. For a part of the cycle, valve V5 is in the position illustrated, where it connects inlet conduit 534 to chamber section B4 and outlet conduit 536 to chamber section A'4; and for another part of the cycle it is in the second position where it connects inlet conduit 534 to chamber section A'4 and outlet conduit 536 to chamber B4.

The device further includes four one-way ball valves, namely: valve 670, which is in the line between conduit 528 and chamber section B4; valve 672, which is in the line between conduit 530 and chamber section B'4; and valve 674, which is in the line between conduit 528 and chamber section A4; and valve 676, which is in the line between conduit 530 and chamber section A4.

The operation of the device is as follows, assuming valve V5 is in the positions illustrated.

The relatively hot nitrogen at a pressure of 255 kgJcm. is applied through inlet conduit 534, compressor C7 (to drive the compressed nitrogen through the device), and then through valve V5 into chamber section B4. Chamber section B4 was filled with the relatively cold nitrogen applied from inlet 528 at a pressure of 225 kg./cm. during the previous cycle. Thus, the 255 l g./cm. pressure at inlet 534 (plus the small additional pressure from C7) is applied to the paraffin in chamber section B4, the latter rising in chamber section BB'4 and forcing the cold nitrogen out past one-way valve 672 into outlet 530 at a pressure of 255 kg./cm. The latter pressure is also applied to one-way valve 670, which closes and thereby prevents the nitrogen in line 528 from entering chamber section B'4 at this time; and to one-way valve 676, which also closes and prevents the cold nitrogen from line 528 flowing out through line 530.

At the same part of the cycle, the relatively cold nitrogen from inlet conduit 528 passes through one-way valve 674 into the top of chamber section A4, this pressure being transmitted through the paraffin and driving out the relatively hot nitrogen (previously applied) from chamber section A'4 at the pressure of 225 kg./cm. The latter nitrogen passes through valve V5 and is compressed by compressor C8 to boost its pressure to 225.5 kgJcm. at outlet conduit 536.

When the paraffin in chamber sections 8'4 and A4 rise to their high points, their floater valves v8 and v6 respectively, close in the manner described previously.

Cyclic valve V5 will be actuated later in the cycle to reverse its connections so that the hot nitrogen at the higher pressure from inlet conduit 534 is applied to chamber section A4, and the outlet conduit 536 is connected to chamber section B4.

' When this occurs, the higher pressure from line 534 drives the paraffin dow in chamber section A'4, and forces the relatively cold nitrogen out of the top of chamber section A4, opening one-way valve 676, and passing the nitrogen into outlet conduit 530 at a pressure of 255 kg./cm.. Valve 672 closes, and the relatively cold nitrogen at the lower pressure from inlet conduit 528 is now permitted to pass through one-way valve 670 into the top of chamber section B4 where its pressure is transmitted through the paraffin to the hot nitrogen at the top of chamber section B4 and forces the latter out through valve V5, compressor C8, and outlet conduit 536.

it is thus seen that this arrangement is similar to that in FIG. 2, in that it provides the same type of double-action pressureexchange, between the higher and lower pressure fluids. However, since in this case the fluids are both gases (nitrogen at different temperatures) an intermediate separating medium is needed, this medium being the paraffin between the two chamber sections.

As in the previously described devices, valves v5, v6, v7 v8 are normally in their open positions, but will float in the paraffin as the latter rises so as to close their respective chamber sections before the paraffin rises to the level where it may flow out through the chamber section. As soon as the paraffin level drops in a chamber section, its respective floater valve reopens.

It is to be clearly understood that the described embodiments of the invention are illustrative only, and that many other embodiments, variations and applications of the invention, or the several features thereof disclosed, may be made.

lclaim:

l. A hydraulic pressure-exchanging device, comprising: an inlet conduit for a first fluid at a certain pressure; an outlet conduit for said first fluid; an inlet conduit for a second fluid at a different pressure; an outlet conduit for said second fluid; a

chamber; first valve means connecting said first fluid inlet conduit to said chamber and said second fluid outlet conduit to said chamber, whereby the inlet pressure of said first fluid is applied to said second fluid in said chamber to drive said second fluid out of said chamber through said second fluid outlet conduit at the same or lower pressure as that at said first fluid inlet conduit; and further valve means normally open to permit passage of the fluid into or out of the chamber but operative to close after the flow of a predetermined quantity of said fluid to terminate the further flow thereof from the chamber.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said further valve means includes a floatable valve element disposed in said chamber, said valve element being movable by the change in the level of the fluid in the chamber to open and close said chamber.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the floatable valve element includes a container open to the fluid in the chamber, and a sprin supporting the weight of said container so that the container oats and moves to open or closed position with the change in level of a fluid in the chamber.

4. A hydraulic device of the character described, comprising: an inlet conduit for a first fluid; an outlet conduit for said first fluid; an inlet conduit for a second fluid; an outlet conduit for said second fluid; a first chamber; a second chamber; valve means connecting, for a period of time, said first fluid inlet conduit to said first chamber and said second fluid outlet conduit to said first chamber, whereby the inlet pressure of said first first fluid is applied to said second fluid in said chamber; said valve means also connecting, for the same time period, said second fluid inlet conduit to said second chamber and said first fluid outlet conduit to said second chamber, whereby the inlet pressure of said second fluid is applied to said first fluid in said second chamber; said valve means reversing the foregoing connections during another time period whereby the first fluid inlet conduit and the second fluid outlet conduit are connected to said first chamber; and further valve means normally open to permit passage of said first and second fluids into or out of said first and second chambers, but operative to close after the flow of a predetermined quantity of the fluid from its respective chamber to terminate the further flow thereof from said chamber.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second chambers consists of a single chamber section.

6. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second chambers comprises at least two interconnected chamber sections.-

7. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein one of the fluids is in the gaseous state and the other fluid is in the liquid state.

8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein both fluids are in the gaseous state but include a separating liquid therebetween.

v9. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein both fluids are in the liquid state. 

1. A hydraulic pressure-exchanging device, comprising: an inlet conduit for a first fluid at a certain pressure; an outlet conduit for said first fluid; an inlet conduit for a second fluid at a different pressure; an outlet conduit for said second fluid; a chamber; first valve means connecting said first fluid inlet conduit to said chamber and said second fluid outlet conduit to said chamber, whereby the inlet pressure of said first fluid is applied to said second fluid in said chamber to drive said second fluid out of said chamber through said second fluid outlet conduit at the same or lower pressure as that at said first fluid inlet conduit; and further valve means normally open to permit passage of the fluid into or out of the chamber but operative to close after the flow of a predetermined quantity of said fluid to terminate the further flow thereof from the chamber.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said further valve means includes a floatable valve element disposed in said chamber, said valve element being movable by the change in the level of the fluid in the chamber to open and close said chamber.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the floatable valve element includes a container open to the fluid in the chamber, and a spring supporting the weight of said container so that the container floats and moves to open or closed position with the change in level of a fluid in the chamber.
 4. A hydraulic device of the character described, comprising: an inlet conduit for a first fluid; an outlet conduit for said first fluid; an inlet conduit for a second fluid; an outlet conduit for said second fluid; a first chamber; a second chamber; valve means connecting, for a period of time, said first fluid inlet conduit to said first chamber and said second fluid outlet conduit to said first chamber, whereby the inlet pressure of said first first fluid is applied to said second fluid in said chamber; said valve means also connecting, for the same time period, said second fluid inlet conduit to said second chamber and said first fluid outlet conduit tO said second chamber, whereby the inlet pressure of said second fluid is applied to said first fluid in said second chamber; said valve means reversing the foregoing connections during another time period whereby the first fluid inlet conduit and the second fluid outlet conduit are connected to said first chamber; and further valve means normally open to permit passage of said first and second fluids into or out of said first and second chambers, but operative to close after the flow of a predetermined quantity of the fluid from its respective chamber to terminate the further flow thereof from said chamber.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second chambers consists of a single chamber section.
 6. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second chambers comprises at least two interconnected chamber sections.
 7. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein one of the fluids is in the gaseous state and the other fluid is in the liquid state.
 8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein both fluids are in the gaseous state but include a separating liquid therebetween.
 9. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein both fluids are in the liquid state. 